Message Class: Textual
Encryption: High
Priority: Medium
To: Admiral Isabelle Montlaville de Chanteloup
From: Captain Rochelle Holland
Salutations.
Allow me to introduce myself. I am Flag Captain Rochelle Holland, Commander of Her Majesty's Battleship Rodney, a servant of Her Highness Queen Carina I and a dutiful citizen of the United Kingdom of Bretonia. Two days ago, the Rodney, as well as several forces from both the United Kingdom and Liberty, proceeded into Magellan, to enact an assault on your Battleship Betheny, of which I am sure you remember. During this assault, you spoke some rather unusual words for a woman of your position, and I would like to know if they were at least in some degree truthful.
I dare not speak for the Queen, Fleet Admiral Sir McIntire or any of the Queen's other subjects, however what was planned to be a show of force did seem to raise a question, the very same one I am asking you about here. If in any way should the Kingdom be able to nurse her wounds, tend to our own and not be at risk of the power of the Gallian War Machine, then I am of a mind that it would be favorable in some way.
At the foremost, however, this communication is simply that much, as I am aware of the penalties for collusion with an enemy of the Queen and her realm, and I dare not mindlessly backstab that which I love dearly. Should you, or whomever reads this on your behalf, decide to toss it aside, it will be of no consequence. However, partial civility should be returned with at least the same level of respect, even if it means you were insulting our closest ally.
Fare-thee-well, and should we cross paths again, let us at least ensure the sabre-rattling is kept civil.
Rochelle Holland
Flag Captain
Bretonian Armed Forces Secondary
MARINE ROYALE GAULOISENouveau message vidéo. Identifiant : Amiral Isabelle Montlaville de Chanteloup Unité : Etat-major de la Marine Royale Gauloise Destinataire : Captain Rochelle Holland, commandant du HMS Rodney, Royaume-Uni de Bretonia
Sujet : A follow up.
17 juin, 741 A.G.S.
Ile-de-France
Chanteloup appears in her "I'm tired but still quite angry" form. She seems to be in her private quarters rather than the usual command centre.
Captain Holland,
She inhales, then trails off for a second. Her usually sharp eyes take a pensive air as she gazes at the screen.
You'll have to excuse the delay of this reply. I've given it a lot of thought, as you can imagine. It's a funny thing, you know, this correspondence. I would get hanged in a minute if I was caught saying this, but at lot of all this messy nonsense between us and the rest of you could have been avoided if we'd only chosen to talk and not lash out. Although, that'd imply we would have been given audience and fair treatment from your governments... And after years of knowing the Sirians, I doubt that anything other than violence would have worked.
She goes pensive again, but it passes quickly.
I do remember you, captain. How could I not ? You inflicted us a bitter defeat that day and I've had a bitch of a time fixing things. Now, much and more was said during this operation... And I can certify you, on my honour, that all of it was truthful. I won't lie to you : I bear a great many grudges against Bretonia for reasons new and old, and that sentiment is shared by a good amount of the population, I would wager. With some help from our media, to be sure, but I've always believed you can only feed a people what they're ready to believe. And that always takes at least a basis of truth. Your ancestors haven't exactly been fair to us, no, and I for one sincerely believe that we have a right to claim reparations for the Great Betrayal.
Note my term. Reparations. Not slaughter, not genocide. Sure, the term "revenge" is carted around often in Gallic media, but it's mostly to arouse the masses who would understand little about politics and reparations. It's a simple term, and only simple terms can work with large crowds. I want to do right by my people, captain. And I believe the King does, as well, though I'm not privy to all that goes through His mind. This campaign wouldn't have been set in motion for something so petty and trivial as mere conquest and vengeance... When Bretonia submits, as we both know it will, it will be given fair treatment, its people will come under the King's protection and your great and noble House will remain a relevant actor in galactic history. We didn't come here to raze it all to the ground. We came here to make Liberty pay.
You're a high-ranking officer in Her Majesty's navy, you certainly have been privy to all the machinations Libertonian governments hatched and got away with, time and again. We already know of a few, starting with their chief role behind the Great Betrayal, and we don't enjoy the proximity you have with them. "Enjoy"... She snorts. All the injustice, the poverty, the oppression, the squalor that affects Sirius... We trace it all back to Liberty. By annexing it, we'll not only obtain our just reparations, we'll do their people a great favour, and perhaps the entire sector as well. Don't tell me you've never yearned for them to finally pay for their vile acts, captain. We are your chance to see it happen.
She sighs.
I'm aware that there's a long road ahead of us yet. Your people are determined to struggle to the bitter end, and it won't be easy to reason with them, but I am hopeful. I trust Bretonia tires of ceaseless war and yearns for something else, something that we can provide. A new purpose. But until then, I'm fairly confident that more blood must be spilled, and more sabers will be rattled. That's the price of war and we're not the ones who dictate it. A shame, don't you think, captain ?
We'll meet again before this is over.
Adieux.
She presses a key on her terminal, and the screen goes dark with only her initials appearing : I. M. de Chanteloup
(06-14-2019, 12:25 PM)Sombra Hookier Wrote: If everyone was a bit more like Lanakov, the entire world would be more positive. Including pregnancy tests.
Message Class: Textual
Encryption: High
Priority: Medium
To: Admiral Isabelle Montlaville de Chanteloup
From: Captain Rochelle Holland
Salutations.
I am pleased to see that my communique was not ignored or tossed aside. Such a time we can waste typing messages that are looked over and discarded.
I must admit, Admiral, I am unsure of your reasoning for the staunch distrust of our allies of House Liberty. Through time and time still, they have not only respected the sovereignty of Her Majesty's realm through the centuries, but have ensured good trade through the independent worlds to see both of our peoples flourish. I apologize fully if our friends' ancestors have caused ill towards the persons who birthed the House of Gallia, but that time has long since passed.
As a servant of the Queen, and therefore a facilitator of the written word over conflict, I will state that the proverb 'the pen is mightier than the sword' speaks well and true in the eyes of us servants of Her Highness the Queen. As you have seen yourself, and as I am sure Captain Khatri has arrayed before, our men are not bloodthirsty. In contrast, we desire only to see our wondrous realm prosper, to see her blossom in the light of peace and sovereignty. Righteous servants of Her Majesty never attack unless provoked, as I am sure your men may attest to, Admiral. We live only to serve the realm, protect those which we hold dear and honor those who came before us.
I do hope this will not dissuade you and your people from attempting negotiations. I do in truth see a potential future for our two Kingdoms. What are now bitter enemies, both we and our allies, may in time become the staunchest of cooperators, as history has yet proven before. Should you and your men continue along this path, we will pity only those who survive the Queen's anger, and while we will see to it that as many live as we can, no promises can be made in the foresight of total war.
I wish you the best, Admiral, should His Majesty the King seek to end this conflict with words in place of weapons. Should the war continue, know that we will stand our ground, and ensure that the sovereignty of the Kingdom is upheld at any cost.
Carina, Regina, Imperetrix!
Rochelle Holland
Flag Captain
Bretonian Armed Forces Secondary